Chapter 19

Alexander hunched over the fire he had made in an abandoned palace he had stumbled across. It looked like no one had been there in a while judging by the layer of dust covering the furnishings. From the looks of things he could also tell that the previous occupant had not exactly been a model citizen. There were some skeletons about and the faint metallic smell of blood still lingered in the air. At the front of the room he was in was large stone alter that had iron shackles attached to it. Alexander figured they were used to hold someone down for use in some sort of live sacrifice or for if the victim was being used in some sort of cruel sexual act. Not exactly the nicest place to sleep but still it was a roof his head and he had found it just in time before a heavy rainstorm blew in which had still not lifted away, and a large hole in the far wall made it difficult for him to keep his fire lit as wind and rain water kept blowing in threatening to extinguish it.

"I suppose there won't be any dinner tonight..." he said quietly to himself trying to lighten is already very dark mood. He took out his bedroll and wrapped himself up in it to keep warm. Usually he rather liked camping out, he and Seishi had gone camping many times together when they were younger, but the cold rain and wind made it anything but fun. "Tomorrow I'm going to find a cave, this bloody place is unacceptable." He scooted over into a dry corner and curled up to go to sleep. God he hated this place... for some reason he felt as though he was being watched...

Several hours later a violent clap of thunder roused Alexander from his sleep. The storm had gotten worse rather then better and while he was asleep his fire had gone out leaving the whole room in darkness. The only time he was able to see anything was when there were lightning flashes. Alexander shivered as he tried to go back to sleep. "Maybe I shouldn't have gone off the handle like that back there... at least there I would have had a bed to sleep in..." he mused quietly as he tossed and turned on the hard stone floor. Another loud clap of thunder rang out overhead and it was so loud it hurt Alexander's sensitive ears. "Bloody hell, anywhere would be better then here..."

"Your whimpering is growing tiresome, mutt..." a low voice came from over where Alexander's fire had been. Alexander was on his feet in a flash, his hand on his sword's hilt ready to defend himself. Alexander was suddenly wide-awake as he scanned the room for signs of life. Eyes could not see anything but pitch-blackness and his ears heard only the sounds of a severe thunderstorm. However it was his nose that puzzled Alexander, he was positive he had heard someone speak yet his nose picked up nothing new at all. Just the same wet moldy scent of the palace, nothing else.

"Who there? Identify yourself!" he called out in accented Japanese. He still didn't speak the language as well as his sister but he did understand it pretty well. Then a bright flash of lightning came forth an illuminated the room for a split second. A split second was all Alexander need for he saw the one who had spoken sitting on the seat that he had vacated earlier. It looked to be a young man, in his mid twenties, sitting there naked. He had long straight black hair, a thin-lipped mouth, and narrow piecing eyes. Alexander didn't like him one bit, and what disturbed him even more was the fact that this man seemed to have no presence at all. "I asked you a question!" he called out trying to get bearings on this mysterious newcomer.

A haughty was Alexander's reply, "I see you must be a relative of hers… how else could you feel just like her..."

Alexander narrowed his eyes; he knew he had to be referring to Seishi as she was the only relative of his in this country that someone would know about. "I not ask again! Identify yourself or prepare for battle!"

"Easy big boy, you'll get your chance to play... but first let me have a look at your soul..." came the stranger's eerie reply

Alexander blinked at what had just been said, "My soul? What are you-" suddenly Alexander's head felt like it was splitting open and he felt the presence of something inside his own mind, "Nooo stop it! Stay out of my head!" The feeling continued unabated and Alexander collapsed down to his knees in pain. It felt as though someone was driver a red-hot spike directly through his entire being. Then suddenly it stopped and Alexander sat on his knees cradling his head. The pain was gone but he still felt a presence inside of himself.

'So...' a voice spoke to Alexander inside his head, 'she is your sister... and it seems you have reason to hate her too...'

"Hate her? Don't be ridiculous! She is my sister and I love her, I could never possibly hate her." Alexander fired back

'Don't lie to yourself you know it to be true. She has abandoned you for that other dog. She has forsaken you, your father, your mothers, and your youngest sister. She has turned her back on her old life because she despises you all. Why else would she leave without asking for your help? You would have helped if she had asked but instead she ran. How unfortunate to be brother to one such as her.' The voice rambled on and on, the more the voice spoke the weaker Alexander felt.

Images of the night at Sesshoumaru's castle when Seishi had sided with Sesshoumaru kept appearing in his head and well as images of himself comforting their younger sister when they had both found out that Seishi had left suddenly without saying goodbye. Rage began to boil up, what if what the voice said was true and Seishi had truly forsaken her own family to be with Sesshoumaru. "She left us... she didn't even say goodbye..."

'What a wretched sister, you know what you must do?' the voice pried.

"Yes..." Alexander replied in a barely audible whisper.

Alexander rose to his feet, his eyes no longer their dark blue, but rather completely red. Even the whites of his eyes and changed to blood red. His hand went to his sword, the Semperforte, and drew it. He raised it towards the sky and a dark blue aura started to emit from the blade.

Outside the palace a loud thunderclap sounded and was made even louder as the palace seemed to explode from the inside...

Seishi looked out a window at the miserable weather outside before stepping back and closing it… Since it wasn't a day to be out, she and Rin were sitting in one of the many rooms of Sesshoumaru's palace going over her lesson.

Seishi had idly been doodling on some spare parchment while Rin did her work. Currently it was a silly little doodle of Jaken being hung by his heals… then there was a more serious drawing of Sesshoumaru… which she had no clue she had been doing until she noticed herself thinking the strips on his cheeks were a little to long.

Seishi moved back over to the table they were working at and sat down, with her knees folded under her. She looked over at Rin's work and smiled, "Very good Rin-chan… you even remembered to carry the remainder… and yes that is the right lowest common de…" she paused… sensing a strong energy presence drawing near.

A servant was out along the west wall tending to a part of the wall that had been damaged in Sesshoumaru's recent battle with Alexander. He didn't know why this work couldn't have waited till the rain stopped but everyone in the palace knew better then to disobey Sesshoumaru. He slapped more mortar on the wall and began smoothing it out as he felt the ground start to tremble. He lost his balance as the entire ground began shaking and he a heard a rumbling sound. Suddenly the wall burst as a powerful dark blue energy ripped trough it demolishing the entire west wall and turning the poor servant into vapor.

Seishi narrowed her eyes… as she hurried outside the palace. She told Rin to stay where she was and to continue her studies, while Seishi herself ran off and take care of something. Now she pushed aside a door to the outside and stepped out into the cold winds of that day; her pale blue robe garment fluttering around a bit. "Alexander! What do you think you're doing!" Hand on Kitoiga's hilt, she stepped out into the dismal weather and went to meet her brother before Sesshoumaru could show up and make things worse.

Alexander smiled and slowed started walking towards Seishi with his sword drawn. He was wet all the way through thanks to the heavy rain and his hair clung to his face. "I came to see you, I have a lot I want to discuss with you..."

Seishi blinked at her brother, her hand moving from Kitoiga's hilt to her arms crossing over her chest for warmth, "Well you could have knocked like a normal visitor instead of blowing a hole though Sesshoumaru's wall." She couldn't see him very well as it was dark out because of the clouds blocking any natural light there might have been. But as he drew closer, she blinked, "Alexander?" In a flash of lightning… did his eyes look… red?

Alexander drew closer, "I've wanted to tell you something for a long time... " he drew still closer to Seishi and was within striking range, "I... absolutely..." he suddenly lunged forward and stabbed his sword into Seishi's right shoulder, "...despise you..."

Seishi let out as started yelp of both surprise and pain as she felt the bite of the blade through her shoulder… She had the sensation of being forced back until she felt herself hit the wall, his blade keeping her pinned there as it has passed clean through her and into the wall itself. She could only stare in disbelief at her brother as her own hot blood now started to drain down her side, feeling quite different then the freezing rain. She never felt such pain… not so much because of the wound… but rather the utter sense of disbelief and betrayal. "Alex…?"

Alexander smirked at her, and then twisted the blade a bit before ripped it out and backhanded Seishi hard across the face, knocking her to the side. "You sow, you did honestly think you would get away with it?"

Seishi found herself on the muddy ground… her right arm barely responded to her commands so she had to rely on her left. She forced herself up and stumbled back from Alex, her left hand over the new freely bleeding wound of her shoulder as she went down against, having slipped in the mud. She turned to face her brother. "What are you talking about! What's wrong with you! This isn't like you…"

Alexander pointed his sword at Seishi who was lying prone on the ground, "I'm tired of your face, and I'll send you and that mutt Sesshoumaru straight to hell." He raised his blade over Seishi to deal a killing blow. Alexander was about to bring the blade down upon Seishi's head when he felt cold steel rip through his abdomen. He looked down and saw Tokijin sticking out through his chest, "So... the knight had come to save the damsel..."

Behind him Sesshoumaru burned with rage and hissed into Alexander's ear, "It time to finish what he started, coward." Sesshoumaru ripped Tokijin out of Alexander's chest and place a solid kick to the center of his back knocking him over Seishi and onto his back in the muddy courtyard.

Alexander stood up, "I think not... It will not end like last time..."

Seishi was still in too much shock to react to all that was happening… her wound was not a life threatening one, even though she was loosing much blood… it was only muscle and flesh… no organs were damaged. But the fact it was her brother had done it… One thing was for sure… she had to get out of the way… she forced herself back to her feet and moved back toward the palace.

Alexander raised his sword and swung back at Sesshoumaru's wave creating his own and canceling it out. He noticed Seishi trying to retreat. "You will not escape! I want you to suffer as I have!" His sword began glowing with a dark blue and he held the sword out in front of him, "Perish! Azure Howling Wave!" Alexander unleashed his ultimate attack upon the two. The Azure Howling wave was an attack that used both the destructive energies of the Semperforte and it also create deadly sonic waves that could shatter a person's eardrums rendering them deaf, sometimes permanently, leaving them off balance and disoriented, leaving them very vulnerable if they somehow survived the attack.

Seishi's eyes widened, unable to believe her brother just used his attack intending to kill not only Sesshoumaru, but her as well… This was not her brother… Something was seriously wrong here… and the red in his eyes proved that… "Sesshoumaru! Cover your ears!" was all she could get out as she whipped Kitoiga from its sheath with her left hand.

She forced her injured arm to hold her hand over her right ear, and tired to close out sound to both… She could stop the energy wave, but the sound… She moved between Sesshoumaru and her brother, to the eye of the attack as it reached them. Holding Kitoiga before her and willing it with all her might to absorb all the energy that was trying to sear them from existence… Even as she did this, she could feel the ring of the sound waves as they washed over her… she had to fight to hold her ground… then there was a burst of red hot pain in the right side of her skull the made her stagger, but she did not budge until Kitoiga had done it's job.

When the energy of the blast had been absorbed and the danger of it nullified, Kitoiga glowing with all the energy it had absorbed. Seishi stood there a moment, her right hand dropping from her ear and back to her side… then slowly she started to tip, then fell awkwardly to one side… she barely reaching out to catch herself with her left hand, Kitoiga been dropped and falling in the mud beside her, a trail of blood draining from her left pointed ear.

Sesshoumaru caught Seishi before she could hit the ground. Hr saw the blood trailing out of one ear and immediately guess the nature of the attack. He furrowed his brow in anger. "Baka onna! Why did you do that?" Not only had she shielded him with her sword she had also protected him with her body against the sound waves. What a disgrace he was. He focused angrily on Alexander. "You'll pay dearly for that."

Seishi gripped onto Sesshoumaru's sleeve, making him look back to her, "Don't kill him…" her silvery blue eyes were pleading, "That isn't my brother… it is but it isn't… something's got to be controlling him…" she knew she had to talk quickly since nothing was keeping Alex from attacking again, and she felt she had to explain, "I had to shield you… you did not know the nature of the attack and if you had suffered the blunt of it, you would be unable to fight and then where would we both be?" Seishi gave him a slight smile; despite the fact her head was in pure agony, "Keep him in close quarters… he needs room to send out his 'Azure Howling Wave' attack… so don't give it to him…" She let go of his sleeve, reaching out and grabbed Kitoiga's hilt from where the sword was laying in the mud.

Sesshoumaru hesitated, then nodded, understanding her words, but showing nothing on his face as he picked Seishi up and leaped up high into the air and landed near to the palace entrance, setting her back down, "Stay here." He then stood up and moved to face Seishi's brother Alexander. Seishi struggled to stay sitting up, but even that made her dizzy… But she had to watch this, forcing herself to stay up and follow the battle.

"Where do you think your taking her? You can't escape me! Azura Howling Wave!" He launched his attack a second time.

Sesshoumaru was prepared this time and sent an energy wave at the ground in front of the attack. The attack made groves in the ground that cause the Azure Howling Wave to veer slight of course missing Seishi completely, but sound of the attack did swing up at Sesshoumaru to which he held Tokijin up to block. Finally Sesshoumaru landed close in front of Alexander. Sesshoumaru glanced at the wound in Alexander's chest. Strange how it didn't seem to faze him at all; a wound like that was serious even for a demon. He pointed his Tokijin at Alexander. "Who ever you are, prepare for the most painful moment of your life."

Alexander growled his red eyes burning, "I'll teach you to be so impudent to me, you wretch little dog! You think you're so powerful. My kind was born to be your masters!" he lunged forward with Semperforte and felt his blade clash with Sesshoumaru's! "Pathetic swine! Bow before your master!"

Sesshoumaru mentally raised an eyebrow at Alexander's words. They moved the likelihood of possession being the cause of Alexander's behavior to being undeniable, and judging by that, this person was coming after them, and he had a guess as to who it was. "So… you survived did you... Craven?"

A smirked appeared on Alexander's face and then he started speaking but the voice that came from his lips was not Alexander's, "Finally realized it did you? I'll never forgive you or your bitch for destroying my body! Do you realize I could have been bound to that spot forever if this fool hadn't decided to spend the night in my old fortress? Lucky for me he did though. I couldn't have asked for better body for which to carry out my revenge. If you kill this body then the bitch's brother will die. What do you think of that, mutt?" Craven punctuated his sentences with harsh blows to Sesshoumaru's Tokijin.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at Craven, "That would suit me just fine!" he responded with a heavy blow that knock Craven back. The Sesshoumaru heard a crick noise. He looked down at Tokijin's blade and saw a deep crack in the blade. Despite that, he increased his intensity on Craven.

Craven also noticed the crack and grinned. It explained why Sesshoumaru was suddenly turning up the heat. He stayed on the defensive waiting, as the crack slowly got deeper and deeper, until finally he struck back with everything her had.

The Semperforte acted like a hammer on the weaken Tokijin and with a loud ping the sword snapped in two leaving Sesshoumaru holding the hilt.

Craven dashed in his eyes wild, "Now the victory is mine!" He slashed only at air though, because Sesshoumaru was gone.

He reappeared behind Craven, "Useless fang of a weak demon..." was all he had to say for his broken Tokijin and he quickly discarded the hilt and stuck at Craven's back with his claws. Or rather he tried. Craven's claws whipped behind and locked hands with Sesshoumaru, "Did you think I would fall for the oldest trick in the book?" Craven whipped Semperforte around and hit Sesshoumaru in the side.

"Sesshoumaru!" Seishi was struggling to try and get up; leaning against a post that held up the overhang she was under. She couldn't keep her balance on her own, but clinging to the post she was able to keep herself upright for the most part. She looked at him, silently asking him to come to quickly.

Sesshoumaru looked over at Seishi, what the hell could she want? He was in the middle of a fight, yet somehow he sensed to was important so he grasped a hold of the sword lodged in his shoulder and whirled himself around and then let go of the sword sending Craven flying and he raced over to Seishi.

Seishi had put Kitoiga into its sheath, holding it in her right hand, which holding the sword while hanging at her side was about all it was good for at the moment. She had her back to the post; using it for support as she reached forward, "Give me your hand…" her tone had a pleading sound as if asking him to trust her… they had to hurry before Craven recovered…

She took Sesshoumaru's hand and pulled it to her, until his palm was against her bleeding shoulder wound. She purposely pressed his hand against the wound so her blood was now all over his hand. She let go of his hand and reached forward, almost falling against him as she touched her hand to the blood from his wound. Her hand now equally covered in blood, she reached for his hand and grasped it so the two bloods were now mixed.

"Between our hands, our blood has mixed…" she let go of his hand, with a wince, she reached over and exchanged hands on her sword, now holding it in her left, she shifted her grip then held it out in front of her, hilt to Sesshoumaru. "By my blood and will, this blade, which is tied to my soul by my blood bond to it; this sword who rejects all hands but those of my blood line, will now recognize you… Sesshoumaru… as it is my will, and our blood." After reciting the little rite, she held it for him to take, "Take it… It is already pulsing with power from the attack earlier… just… try to spare his body if you can…" She was starting to slide down the post.

Sesshoumaru took the sword in his hands and surly enough the sword did not reject him. It felt extremely awkward using Seishi's sword. He would do whatever it took to win but he would still have rather done it with his own strength rather then borrowing it from Seishi. Suddenly his senses screamed danger and he quickly grabbed Seishi and jumped out of the way as a Azure Howling Wave zipped past them and devastated the west side of his house.

Seishi's eyes were wild as she looked back toward the house, "Rin, Jaken and the servants are still in there..." she prayed none of them were in that section... She felt Sesshoumaru set her down as he turned to engage her brother again.

Armed with Kitoiga Sesshoumaru leapt back at Craven as he charged up his attack again and locked swords with him.

Craven smirked, "That thing again? I faced that before I won't fall for -" when the swords connected the brother swords responded to each other and began to feed back to their holders. Semperforte being at much higher power up state then Kitoiga was at the time sent paralyzing wave for energy through Craven. "W-what the hell is this-s-s?"

Seishi had thought something like this would happen… they were, after all… both made from her father's fangs… She hoped the power of both would drive Craven from her brothers' body, or at least weaken his hold on him…

Craven struggled to maintain control of his host's body, "Alexander... remember Seishi betrayed you we both have reasons to hate her..."

Seishi couldn't help but feel some outrage at those words. Betrayed him? But sadness proved stronger then anger as she stared at her brother, "Do you really believe I betrayed you… Alex…"

Craven looked Seishi's way, "Do not deny it, it was in his memories. You left without so much as a goodbye."

Seishi frowned, "I do not deny it… but I never meant it as a betrayal… If I hadn't left when I did, I would not have been able to leave at all… I left a letter with my mother explaining it all… I noted my regrets of not being able to say goodbye… but Alex…" she ignored Craven now and talked to her brother, "You were out with father on that annual week long hunt. If I had waited for you, to say goodbye, you would have tired to stop me, and even if I managed to get past you, father would have had me before I could have gotten very far… It was my chance and I took it… if I had waited…

"Alex, I was to be sent to France to stay with the pompous prince's family that very next day, before you and father would have even returned form the hunt… your own mother told me so herself… and was going to accompany me there… I'm sorry Alex… I never meant to hurt any of you, I was scared and I could not turn to you because you were not available. I had to run then, or be stuck in France with a demon I could not stand to be around for more the two minutes. I don't ask you to forgive me… but please… don't let Craven control you… he is evil and only using you for his own purposes… he wants revenge because I destroyed his body… But I had reason! You know I do not kill if I can help it, but he was going to devour Rin! I could not stand by and let it happen." she looked at her brother, her usually pale eyes dark with remorse and sadness, blood still running from the large wound in her shoulder, turning the muddy ground where she knelled red. "Don't let Craven control you, Alex… you're stronger then that, right… What ever happened to my big brother that I looked up to and believed could do anything?"

"She lies Alexander! She's trying to confuse you! Do not wavier; do you think Sesshoumaru will let you live after this? Think of your own suriviv-" Craven spoken in a rapid tone feeling his control slipping.

'Get OUT!' Craven heard a voice from somewhere in his head scream and suddenly he felt himself being pulled from Alexander's body... Alexander's eyes flashed for a minute the returned to normal and he collapsed on the ground.

Kitoiga was bursting with power after the long battle and the clash with Semperforte, "Vanish! Buryoku no Kito!" He said in a monotone voice swiping the sword at Craven as he was expelled from Alex's body, recalling the name he had heard Seishi use for the attack. The attack swirled around Craven and he vanished under the flood of energy.

Seishi waited a moment... but there was no sign of Craven after everything again quieted… She tired to climb to her feet, but was soon back on her knees as her lack equal-labarum sent her back toward the earth. She cursed mentally… it would be days before at least her balance returned… she wasn't so sure about her actually ability to hear from that ear… She was left to kind of pathetically crawl toward where her brother's body fell, her pale blue robe muddy and bloody.

Sesshoumaru gaze about that all the damage his home had sustained. Even more infuriating were the damages that Seishi has sustained. This was absolutely unacceptable, how many times had Seishi been injured and he had been unable to stop it. It was absolutely unacceptable... He walked over and retrieved Kitoiga's sheath, sliding the sword into it and slipping it into his sash beside his own. He then returned to Seishi and Alexander. "He is alive... I have my servants attend to him. Lets get out of this rain," he said moving to pick Seishi up.

Seishi gave a little sound of protest… she had pulled her bother onto his back to make sure he was alive, brushing the hair from his face with gentle finger tips. Her gaze was obviously worried, "Take him inside first." She looked up at Sesshoumaru, "That wound was serious to start with and Craven pushed his body to fight anyway. And he'll catch cold out here… and… and…" She obviously was trying not to let her emotions overwhelm her, trying not to cry.

Sesshoumaru did not respond but rather reached down and picked both siblings up, one at a time, Seishi on his shoulder, and her brother under his arm. Despite being injured himself, he started to make his way inside. Seeing that the threat had passed Sesshoumaru's servants ran out to assist him.

Seishi felt rather silly being carried in like this… but her eyes were on her bother… that was breathing, but she was still worried… She watched as some of the servants took her brother from Sesshoumaru and carried him away to take him to a room to be changed out of his wet clothes and have his wounds tended to by a healer. Once he was out of sight, she wanted to be returned to her feet, "Sesshoumaru? Put me down… And where's Rin? Jaken? Are all the servants accounted for? Was anyone in the section that was destroyed in the blast?"

Seishi's incessant questions were giving Sesshoumaru a headache; he had been outside with them how was he supposed to know. Besides she was hurt herself and here she was worrying about others. "I'm sure everything is fine. This seemed to be the standard ever since you came to be with us…" He set Seishi down on her own two feet but picked her up again as she almost immediately fell down again. "Your ear needs to heal before you can go anywhere."

Seishi scowled at being so helpless and Sesshoumaru pointing it out so plainly, "I just need something to help keep me balanced… I can't just go rest until I know at least Rin is safe."

Sesshoumaru sighed as he opened the door to Seishi's quarters, "You rest here while I summon the healer. After that I will bring Rin to see you."

Seishi paused, then grumbled, "I need a bath..." in deed she was covered in mud and blood, and she was soaked through.

A vein popped out on Sesshoumaru's forehead, "Onna, take things one step at a time. If you take a bath now water will get in your ear and it will become infected. You need to see the healer first.

Seishi turned her head and gave the back of his a glaring look, "Stop calling me onna, Sesshoumaru-sama," Her tone was obvious.

Sesshoumaru glared at Seishi as he set her down on her bed and summoned one of his servants, "Make sure she says in bed until I return; and make sure she's tucked in nice and tight." The servant nodded obediently and took a seat next to Seishi. With that Sesshoumaru left the room, ignoring the look Seishi wassending his way.With the return of Seishi's brother, he now had a ton to do. He just then remember that he was still holding Kitoiga. He took the sword out of his belt and looked at it. Seishi's sword truly was magnificent. Its craftsmanship rivals that of Tenseiga. The thought of swords reminded him that he was now without one to do battle with. As he set Kitoiga in Seishi's doorway he noticed it's red pummel stone, '... was it always that dark?' he wondered to himself. He decided it wasn't worth worrying about and left the room.

(To Be Continued)